Have you ever visited a super bloom before? Or visited a field of wildflowers in the spring? You may have not known this; however, Colorado is home to one of the most spectacular wildflower super blooms in the whole of the United States! There are countless different flower species that sprout year after year and depending upon the rainfall you can begin chasing fresh spring blooms as early as May in the lower elevations and work your way up in elevation slowly all the way into August in the high country above 12,000 to even 13,000 ft!
The jagged peaks of the San Juan Mountain Range in Colorado hide a secret that erupts each summer, your senses become engulfed from the vibrant colors of the landscape and fragrances that fill the air. Against the towering peaks and vast wilderness, the wildflower seeds begin to germinate, soon to cover the mountain sides with the most beautiful display of nature’s raw emotion. Heavily influenced by temperature, snowpack, the springtime melt and early summer monsoons, the flowers simply lay dormant waiting for the perfect moments to germinate that only Mother nature really knows about! The reality is that each year there will be multiple locations erupting with beautiful wildflowers and every year is slightly different in nature. There are however a few places that you simply do not want to miss out on as they are fairly consistent year after year.
ARTWORK BY Marlon Holden “ICE LAKE MAJESTEY” LIMITED EDITION OF 50
Once the snow begins to melt and recede, the warmth of spring breathes life into the valleys, the wildflowers start to sprout, not long after will the high-country floor drastically change. Their delicate petals gently sway in the alpine breeze, creating a profound feeling of wonder and awe within.
While walking through the vast meadows of the San Juan Mountains, you get a rush of emotions where your soul finds peace within the chaos of the outside world. With each step, there is a sense of whispers in the air, as if the wildflowers are sharing their untold stories of the seasons that have passed. Your spirit becomes ignited by their vibrant hues and nature’s raw beauty, making you take a step back and slow down to appreciate the simple things.
The Columbine, Colorado’s state flower, is a beautiful star-shaped flower that has its white and lavender petals on full display come early spring. As the name means long spurred flower, it symbolizes the spirit of the wild, joining together with the rigged peaks that surround it. This invites you to accept and embrace the unique aspects of yourself and the beauty from within.
ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN “COLUMBINE DAWN” LIMITED EDITION OF 50
In the mountain’s shadows, the Indian Paintbrush opens its fiery red petals, symbolizing passion and resilience. The vibrant hue reminds us that even against all odds in the harshest conditions, life will always find a way and the beauty will thrive. The Indian Paintbrush demonstrates the sheer determination and courage to face challenges straight on, giving us inspiration to bloom despite the obstacles that are stacked against us.
Exploring deeper into the high alpine meadows, the Lupine covers the landscape with simply the most delicate purple petals, enchanting all those who have the opportunity to witness such a bloom. While in the moment, all you can do is simply be present and take in the beauty Mother Nature has graced us with. The Lupine reminds us to seek peace amidst the chaos and to find joy in the world that nature provides.
The setting sun begins its descent below the horizon, casting a gentle golden glow over the mountains, the wildflowers say goodnight to the day. However, their spirit lives through the memories of those who have been fortunate enough to witness their beauty. The San Juan Mountains and their wildflowers meadows are a truly remarkable sight, a place where nature shows you all of herself within the elements. Wandering through these mountains is an emotional journey, to say the least, dancing with nature’s vibrant colors, exquisite fragrances and many untold stories.
ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN “ISLAND IN THE SKY” LIMITED EDITION OF 50
CRESTED BUTTE
With all of that said, lets jump into a few locations that simply shouldn’t be missed! The first place I recommend starting your trip is a visit into the Gunnison Valley and more specifically areas surrounding Crested Butte! This iconic, quiet mountain town is a historic heart of the Rockies and situated in the mid elevations places you squarely in wildflower mecca. There are many different trail heads that are accessible to those with a more adventurous spirit with high country vistas stretching into the Maroon Bells and places like the famed Cement Creek Drainage or Fravert Basin.
If you want to keep it simple and forego the backpacking type of experience, there are plenty of beautiful vistas and scenes right off the main forestry road systems and if you intend to go this route, I highly recommend renting a jeep as there are plenty of beautiful 4X4 roads to go and explore which will undoubtedly lead you to plenty of magical moments starting right about mid June!
ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN “SILENT NIGHT” LIMITED EDITION OF 50
KEBBLER PASS
While touring the 8,000 to 9,000 ft elevations in June the aspens are just putting on their bright green foliage and everything in the forest simply comes alive from a long winter! The area around Kebbler Pass is without a doubt on of the showstoppers with many different varieties of wildflowers to view. If you are lucky and time it right, I have been witness to acres upon acres of beautiful lupine bushes blooming just off the roadways. Just be careful if you do park, to pull safely off the roadway and avoid trampling the flowers at all cost.
ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN “BACK COUNTRY” LIMITED EDITION OF 50
SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS
The Alpine loop trail situated right outside of Silverton Colorado is a must do for the adventurous spirit! While it is recommended that you have some off-road experience and a bit of an adventurous spirit, it can be done by most people who are capable and confident drivers. Make sure that you pay attention to signs in these areas as the roads are very critical in areas, steep and can pose severe risks if not prepared. At minimum you will need a high clearance vehicle with 4X4 capability in order to explore this part of the Rocky Mountains.
Cinnamon Pass, Engineer Pass, Poughkeepsie basin and even crossing the highway over towards Black Bear pass is a worthwhile pursuit. In almost every direction you will find something incredible to explore and see. The best time of the year to see this area in bloom will be during the month of July as it is higher up in elevation and the flowers do not get started until a bit later than lower elevations. With that said, be prepared for afternoon thunderstorms and pack extra food, drinks, sunscreen and some rain gear. If at all possible, I would recommend trying to start early and be off the mountain by around noon to two PM as the monsoon can be quite wild and at times dangerous. One time about seven to eight years ago we got caught in a bad lightning storm coming off the top of the mountain and we were too late! I was very uneasy watching several dozen metric tons of debris and trees running off the mountain on both sides of us as we were caught in between two severe landslides that locked us in for the next half of the day until forestry crews were able to clear the roadway enough to 4X4 our way out. Obviously this is not meant to scare you but rather a warning to be conscious of the environment and to be prepared, as anything can happen up there!
ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN “COLUMBINE ENCHANTMENT” LIMITED EDITION OF 50
MAROON BELLS AND SNOWMASS WILDERNESS
For those extremely adventurous souls looking for that next level experience, I do recommend backpacking into these areas. As mentioned earlier, Fravert Basin, Cement Creek, Maroon Pass, Paradise Basin and so many others offer untouched alpine views and pristine tundra that will simply blow your mind. For years I have been in love with this country and I simply won’t live long enough to adventure into all of it, however it is certainly fun to try to see as much of it as possible. Again, in these areas it is remote and having a safety plan in place is essential. Things like a Garmin InReach, a solid packing system with one-man tent, proper sleeping equipment, rations etc. are required. Also, to take note that all of the water in the Rockies will require some form of filtering or purification, as the habitat has many small animals roaming about and the last thing you will want is giardia or cryptosporidium from drinking untreated water.
All things considered if wildflowers and a bit of adventure are your thing, Colorado should absolutely be added to your list of places to visit! Sure, there are a few risks that you should certainly vet out prior to heading out, however there are in most places. However, I can say from experience that these factors are all well worth the opportunity to see nature on full display in one of the most beautiful places on earth!
ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN “BLUE BELL MORNING” LIMITED EDITION OF 200
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